Child&#39;s scooter with projectile firing means



June 21, 1966 R. A. GEORGE CHILD'S SCOOTER WITH PROJECTILE FIRING MEANS Filed June 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR. ROBEQT A. GEORGE mg ka e vb- A T'TORNEYJ June 21, 1966 I R. A. GEORGE CHILD'S SCOOTER WITH PROJECTILE FIRING MEANS Filed June 5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 5 kW m mofiMQm mm m m.lMr A 4 m June 21, 1966 R. A. GEORGE 3,255,873

CHILD'S SCOOTER WITH PROJECTILE FIRING MEANS Filed June 5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVENTOR, QOBEQT A. GE RGE BY oW s T a A ITO/2N5 Y5 United States Patent 3,256,873 CHILDS SCOOTER WITH PROJECTILE FIRING MEANS Robert A. George, 262 West End Ave., New York, N.Y. Filed June 5, 1964, Ser. No. 372,940 Claims. (Cl. 12426) This invention relates generally to a childs scooter construction and refers more particularly to a childs scooter having projectile firing means mounted in the scooter body.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a childs scooter having means mounted therein for firing dants and similar types of projectiles.

Another object is to provide a childs scooter having dart firing means mounted therein which permits the darts to be fired singly or in salvos.

Another object is to provide a childs scooter having dart firing means mounted therein at the front of the scotter body so that the darts may be aimed at a target by merely maneuvering the scooter in that direction.

Still another object is to provide a childs scooter having a special streamlined shape.

A further object is to provide a childs scooter which is of simple construction and thus cheap to manufacture and assemble.

A still further object is to provide a childs scooter which may be supported on wheels or skis for yearround use on either a paved surface or snow.

Another object is to provide a childs scooter which is attractive in appearance.

' Other objects of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification.

In achieving the aforementioned objectives of the present invention it was found advantageous to provide a childs scooter which comprises an elongated main frame member which is supported on wheels or skis at the front and rear. The scooter body comprises thin, streamlined panels extending upwardly at the sides and front of the main frame member. A top panel is also provided on which is mounted a windshield. Generally, the panels extend sufiiciently high to form a streamlined, raised body at the scooter front, behind which, the child may stand on the main frame with one foot while using the other foot for propelling the scooter in the well-known manner. The raised body of the scooter is provided at both sides with hand holds which the child grasps when propelling the scooter. Several banks of firing tubes, each holding a dart or similar projectile, are mounted in the raised body. Each firing tube is provided with means for propelling the dart therefrom, the dart-propelling means being controlled by firing mechanisms connected with trigger devices supported in the hand holds.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a childs scooter constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, some parts being broken away for the sake of clarity.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a ski on which the scooter may be supported for movement over the ground instead of on the wheels illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view showing one bank of the tubes from which darts may be propelled, and the release mechanism for'releasing the darts from the tubes.

, 3,256,873 Patented June 21, 1966 FIGURE 6 is a partial plan view partly in section of one of the hand holds mounted on the scooter raised body and illustrates the trigger mechanism for actuating the release mechanism shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the construction shown in FIGURE 6 when viewed from the direction of arrow A.

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of one of the firing tubes and illustrates the manner of restraining a dart therein and the means by which the dart is propelled from the firing tube.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section illustrating another embodiment of trigger device and firing mechanism.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of FIG- URE 9 as viewed generally in the direction of arrow M, FIGURE 9.

Throughout the specification like reference numerals are used to indicated like parts.

Referring in detail now to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawings, the scooter 10 comprises an elongated main frame member 11 to which is connected relatively thin, upwardly directed side panels 12 and 13, the side panels being identically shaped as shown and being relatively low at the rear and curving upwardly at the front. The side panels may be connected to main frame member 11 by means of screws 14 or other fastening means. In this manner it is possible to provide the scooter in kit form for ready assembly by a child or other person. As seen in FIGURE 2, the sides of main frame member 11 taper inwardly from top to bottom, so that the side panels attached thereto flare outwardly from bottom to top to give the scooter raised body 15 a streamlined effect. The raised body 15 also includes an upper front panel 16 extending transversely between the front margins of the side panels 12 and 13, and a lower front panel 17 angling rearwardly and downwardly of upper front panel 16 as shown in FIGURE 1. Raised body 15 also has a flat top panel 18 extending between the tops of side panels 12 and 13, and a curved rear panel 19 extending partly down the side panels as shown.

A grill piece 20 of lattice'd structure or similar shape covers the front face of lower front panel 17, thereby enhancing the streamlined character of the scooter raised body.

A windshield 21 of plastic or other transparent material is mounted on the top of raised body 15 at the front.

Main frame member 11 is provided with a rigidly mounted front wheel 22, and a pair of wheels 23, 24 mounted at the rear, the rear wheels being resiliently mounted on wheel frame 25 including a resilient pad 26 to dampen shocks caused by the wheels passing over a rough surface. The wheels provide for the scooter being driven by a child over a paved or other type ground surface during the major portion of the year. On the other hand, for winter travel travel over icy and snowy surfaces, the wheels may be replaced by flat runners or skis such as a ski 27 illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The scooter raised body 15 is provided with several, vertically arranged rows of firing tubes 28-33 (FIGS. l-3). in upper front panel 16 and doubler plate 34 which is connected with the rear face of upper front panel 16 as best seen in FIGURE 1. Each of the firing tubes 2833 is adapted to receive a dart or similar projectile 35 (FIG. 8) of a type old and well known in the art, generally the dart being of the type fitted with a rubber suction head so that it may stick to a relatively flat surface upon striking the same. The darts in one row of firing tubes 28-30 are fired from the tubes when a child or other user squeezes the The firing tubes extend through and are supported trigger 36 mounted in hand hold 37 which is connected to the right side of the raised body 15 near the top. Similarly, trigger 38 mounted in hand hold 39 connected to the left side of raised body 15 must be squeezed for firing the darts from firing tubes 31-33 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

The firing mechanism for propelling the darts 35 from the firing tubes 28-30 is illustrated in FIGURES to 8. FIGURE 8 illustrates the propelling mechanism and construction associated with firing tube 28. It should be apparent, however, that the construction of firing tubes 29-33 is identical except where noted hereinafter. Firing tube 28 is closed at one end as 40 so that the compression spring 41 may bear thereagainst and be compressed when the shaft 42 of dart 35 is loaded in the firing tube. The spring 41 which is firmly connected to the closed end 40 of firing tube 28 may be subjected to considerable compression so that when the hold on dart 35 is released, the spring will expand and propel the dart from firing tube 28 with considerable force. The shaft 42 of each dart 35 is provided with an annular groove 43 into which extends an angled catch arm 44, the firing tube 28 having a slot 45 for admitting the catch arm. Catcharm 44 is preferably made of a strip of spring steel and is mounted in a block 46 which is connected to the side of firing tube 28 by means of welding.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the firing mechanism 47 for firing the darts from firing tubes 28-30. A similar mechanism '48 (FIGS. 1-3) is utilized for firing tubes 31-33. It will sides of the firing tubes 29 and 30. As seen in FIGURE 5, the catch arm 44 is of greater length than catch arm 44a. Similarly, catch arm 44a is longer than catch arm 44b. The reason for this arrangement will be described later on. The firing mechanism 47 includes a vertical post 48 which is rigidly connected with a laterally extending rod 49 which in turn is connected to a slide block 50, the slide block 50 being supported in hand hold 37 as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

Firing mechanism 47 also includes release lines 51, 51a and 5111 which are firmly connected respectively at one end with catch arms 44, 44a and 44b. The other ends of the release lines 44, 44a and 44b are firmly connected with studs 52 extending through and loosely supported in against the channel-like projection by the slideblock. Likewise, the lateral rod 49 and vertical post 48 will be moved from the full linepositions to the positions shown in dashed lines. In conjunction with these movements, the release lines 51, 51a and 51b are pulled to the rear by the vertical post movement, the catch arms 44, 44a and 44b are pulled free of the slots 45, 45a and 45b, and the darts propelled from the firing tubes 28, 29 and 30 by means of the springs 41 which are now free to expand. The release position of catch arm 44 is shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 8.

To account for a firing of the darts from firing tubes 28, 29 and 30 in a sequence, the release string 51 is kept taut between stud 52 and catch arm 44 with the catch arm 44 engaged in the groove 43 of its associated dart 35. Release string 51a, however, is provided under the same circumstances with a slack of about and release string 51b with a slack of about 43". The adjustment of tightness or slack in the release strings may be effected by rotating the studs 52 and then setting them with the lock nuts 53. It is seen then, that-as the trigger 36 is depressed with a consequent rearward movement of vertical post 48, the dart from firing tube 28 will fire first, followed after a short delay by the dart in firing tube 29 and lastly that from the firing tube 30. Of course, a rapid squeezing of trigger 36 will effect a sequential firing of tubes 28-30 in such rapid succession that the darts will leave the firing tubes for all practical purposes as a salvo.

It will be observed in FIGURE 5, that catch arm 44 is longer than'catch arm 44b. This is so to provide that catch arms 44 and 44a, which are preferably made of spring steel, will flex sufficiently to permit vertical post 48 to continue to move to the rear until catch arm 44b is pulled free of its slot b in firing tube 30. When loading the darts 35 in the firing tubes 28-30, the dart shaft 42 is merely inserted in the firing tube and pushed against the springs 41, the springs being compressed until the various catch arms engage the annular grooves 43. To facilitate the passage of the dart shaft by the catch arms during loading, the edges of the dart shaft may be beveled as at 67.

It is also apparent that the compression spring 57 Will return the firing mechanism to its non-fire position when vertical post 48. Lock nuts 53 are threaded on the studs on opposite sides of the vertical post for making axial adjustments of the studs as hereinafter described. The release lines are preferably provided at the ends with metal caps 54 (FIG. 8). In this manner, the release lines may be easily connected to the catch arms and studs by means of brazing, spot weld, etc.

A plunger 55 with an enlarged head 56 is mounted in slide block 50, and a compression spring 57 encloses the plunger on one side of the slide block as seen in FIG- URE 5.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawing, the slide block 50 is supported for sliding movement in a slideway 58 in hand hold 37, the hand hold having parallel upper and lower walls 59 and 60 (FIG. 7), the slideway being in lower wall 60. The rear wall 61 of the hand hold has a channel-like projection having a recess 62 for receiving the plunger 55, and the front wall 63 a slotted opening 64 for receiving trigger 36 which is supported for swinging movement in front of the slide block 50, on a pivot 65 extending through the upper and lower walls. With reference to FIGURE 6, it is apparent that when trigger 36 is depressed from its non-fire position (full lines) to a fire position (dashed lines), the trigger will swing striking enlarged head 56 of the plunger 55 and will move the plunger and slideblock 50 in slideway position from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dashed lines, the spring 57 being compressed the trigger 36 is released.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing, the upper front panel 16 is provided with a fiat, substantially smooth target plate 66, it being contemplated that children having scooters constructed according to the present invention could use the scooter of another as a target with the aim of salvoing their darts onto the others target plate.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate another form of construction of the trigger device and firing mechanism 71 1 which may be utilized in the scooter raised body for firing dart 72 from firing tube 73. Referring in detail to FIGURE 9, the trigger device includes a trigger piece 74 which is slidable in groove 75 of hand hold 76, the latter being connected to the side panel 77 of the scooter raised body by screws 78 or other fastening means. A pair of rods 79 and 80 are embedded or otherwise connected with trigger piece 74 and extend. through a slotted opening 811 in side panel 77, the trigger piece bearing against an outer plate 82 connected to the side panel as shown. A similar plate 83 is connected to the panel 77 on the inner side, the plates 82 and 83 being connected to the panel by common rivets 84 and each having slots 85 and86 respectively which register with slotted opening 81 in the side panel 77. Rods 79 and 80 extend through and beyond the slot 86 in plate 83 and are connected at their ends with plate 87, the inner face of the plate 87 being provided with cylindrical pins 88 and 89 which engage the face of plate 83 and reduce the friction attending a depression of trigger piece 74. Plate 83 is provided with a projection 90 which limits the travel of trigger piece 74- by reason of the plate 87 striking thereagainst when the trigger is depressed.

Plate 87 carries a vertical post 91 which supports a stud 92 and lock nuts 93 in the same manner as previously described for vertical post 48. Release line 94 connected to stud 92 extends around a guide pulley 95 mounted on the inside of panel 77 and runs to and is connected with catch arm 96 mounted on the side of firing tube 73. The release line thus acts at substantially a right angle to catch arm 96 and insures a positive release of the dart 72 whenever the trigger piece 74 is depressed to its fire position shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 9.

No return spring is needed in this construction for returning trigger piece 74 from a fire to a non-fire position as the spring steel catch arm 96 sufiices for this purpose.

It should be obvious that when trigger piece 74 is depressed, plate 87 and vertical post 91 move rearwardly, pulling release line 94 and thereby disengaging catch arm 96 from its position restraining dart 72 so that the dart is propelled from firing tube 73 by means of spring 97.

It is believed that the operation of the scooter and the dart firing mechanism is obvious from the foregoing description.

While there is above disclosed but one embodiment of the scooter of the present invention, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the scope of the inventive concept herein disclosed.

What is claimed is:

1. A scooter firing darts comprising in combination:

an elongated main frame;

a raised body supported on one end of said main frame and extending upwardly a distance therefrom, said raised body comprising a pair of shaped side panels extending longitudinally of the main frame,

a front panel extending transversely of said side panels,

a doubler plate connected with said front panel,

and

a top panel extending between the tops of said side panels;

means connected with said main frame for supporting it for movement over a ground surface;

a plurality of firing tubes for holding the darts to be fired supported in said raised body and extending through said front panel and said doubler plate, each of said firing tubes having a slot in the side thereof;

springs supported in each of said firing tubes and engaging the darts and tending to urge the darts out of said firing tubes;

catches supported on the sides of each of said firing tubes and extending through said slots for releasably engaging the darts and restraining the darts in said firing tubes in opposition to the action of said springs;

firing mechanism opera-tively connected with each of said catches for releasing the catches from the darts whereby the darts are propelled from said firing tubes;

a pair of hand holds connected to the side panels of said raised body; and

a trigger device supported in each of said hand holds and operatively connected with the firing mechanism for actuating said firing mechanism.

2. A scooter firing darts comprising in combination:

an elongated main frame:

a raised body supported on one end of said main frame and extending upwardly a distance therefrom, said raised body comprising:

a pair of shaped side panels extending ally of the main frame,

a front panel extending transversely of said side panels,

a doubler plate connected with said front panel, and a top panel extending between the tops of said side panels:

means connected with said main frame for supporting it for movement over a ground surface;

a plurality of firing tubes for holding the darts .to be fired supported in said raised body and extending through said front panel and said doubler plate, said firing tubes being arranged in a plurality of vertical rows, each of said firing tubes having a slot in the side thereof;

springs supported in each of said firing tubes and engaging the darts and tending to urge the darts out of said firing tubes;

catches supported on the sides of each of said firing tubes and extending through said slots for releasably engaging the darts and restraining the darts in said firing tubes in opposition to the action of said springs;

a firing mechanism associated with each of said vertical rows of firing tubes and operatively connected with the catches on the firing tubes in said row for releasing the catches from the darts whereby the darts are propelled from said firing tube;

a hand hold associated with each firing mechanism and connected to one of the side panels of said raised body; and

a trigger device supported in each hand hold and operatively connected with a firing mechanism for actuating said firing mechanism.

3. A combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said firing mechanism comprises:

a slide block supported in the hand hold for sliding movement therein;

resilient means urging said slide block into contact with said trigger;

a rod firmly connected to said slide block and extending laterally therefrom;

a vertical post firmly connected with said rod; and

release lines connected at one end with said vertical post and at the other end with the catches on said firing tubes.

4. A combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of the release lines are of different effective lengths.

5. A combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of the release lines are connected with said vertical post by means of an adjustable stud for varying the effective length of the release line.

longitudin- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,401,245 5/ 1946 Hobbs. I 2,615,722; 10/1952 Johnson 280-87.02 X 2,735,221 2/1956 Fields 124-29 X 2,751,582 6/ 1956 Kuykendall 124-26 X 3,010,718 11/ 1961 Pearson.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SCOOTER FIRING DARTS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: AN ELONGATED MAIN FRAME; A RAISED BODY SUPPORTED ON ONE END OF SAID MAIN FRAME AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY A DISTANCE THEREFROM, SAID RAISED BODY COMPRISING A PAIR OF SHAPED SIDE PANELS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE MAIN FRAME, A FRONT PANEL EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SIDE PANELS, A DOUBLER PLATE CONNECTED WITH SAID FRONT PANEL, AND A TOP PANEL EXTENDING BETWEEN THE TOPS OF SAID SIDE PANELS; MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID MAIN FRAME FOR SUPPORTING IT FOR MOVEMENT OVER A GROUND SURFACE; A PLURALITY OF FIRING TUBES FOR HOLDING THE DARTS TO BE FIRED SUPPORTED IN SAID RAISED BODY AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FRONT PANEL AND SAID DOUBLER PLATE, EACH OF SAID FIRING TUBES HAVING A SLOT IN THE SIDE THEREOF; SPRINGS SUPPORTED IN EACH OF SAID FIRING TUBES AND ENGAGING THE DARTS AND TENDING TO URGE THE DARTS OUT OF SAID FIRING TUBES; CATCHES SUPPORTED ON THE SIDES OF EACH OF SAID FIRING TUBES AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOTS FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING THE DARTS AND RESTRAINING THE DARTS IN SAID FIRING TUBES IN OPPOSITION TO THE ACTION OF SAID SPRINGS; FIRING MECHANISM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH EACH OF SAID CATCHES FOR RELEASING THE CATCHES FROM THE DARTS WHEREBY THE DARTS ARE PROPELLED FROM SAID FIRING TUBES; A PAIR OF HAND HOLDS CONNECTED TO THE SIDE PANELS OF SAID RAISED BODY; AND A TRIGGER DEVICE SUPPORTED IN EACH OF SAID HAND HOLDS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH THE FIRING MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING SAID FIRING MECHANISM. 